The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-30
After PestpOsement Time and gain
Of His Trial, After the Exami-
natiON OF 1900 Jurors
BEFORE THE FINAL PANEL FOR
TIE CASE WAS OBTAINED,
And After Thirty.fOur Continuous
Days in Court, the "BOss BOOd.
Ter" il Found Guilty.
MIR. STICKNEY SUMS UP THE
EVIDENCE ABLY.
Judge Barrett Delivers a Manly
Charge, While the Aged Defend
ant Suffers During the Day.

NEW YORK, June 29.- The thirty
fourth and last day of the Sharp tria
dawned bright and clear. The sgeC
detendent shuffi I'd into court ct one
door IS Judge Barrett came in al
another. He appeared much more
feeble than usual, walking with grea
difficulty to his place. A delay Of ter
minutes was cccssioued at the request
OF Mr.. 6ticknsy before ne commenced
TO sum up. After thanking the Jury
for its Indulgence of yesterday in al
lowing him until today to prepare his
address, he stated that hitherto his
practice has been with cases involving
property, and that this is his first
criminal case. He would MT attempt
to deliver an eloquent addres, but to
make a clear sensible argument that
will appeal to reasoning men. The
charge, said he, Is one of bribery, MOI
of conspiracy. Mr.. Sharp is charged
with corruptiDg Fullgraf with prefer
of money for his vote in the Board Of
Aldermen. What evidence has been
brought forward to prove this charge
None. You are asked to send Sharp
to prison and to impose practically 9
sentence of death upon him, because
somebody corrupted the Board Of
Aldermen.
There ia not particle OF evidence
OF the payment of money to the alder
men. They are said to have met in
McLoughlin's house long before any
railroad matter came before them
and that there it was said that an Of
fer of $500, 600 had been made or was
to be. This is no evidence that any
thing of the kind took place."
Counsel here read from a case
brought against the Erie railway in
1873 for the use OF money in the
Legislature. A. F. Clark made the
argument and held that the money
used was extorted as blackmail and as
a ramon for the road that brigands
might take their hands from it's throat.
That Fullgraf got ia dollar from any
one outside of the Board OF Aldermen
there is not word OF evidence. Sharp
who, it is claimed was the head and
and front of this road, held just 420
shares, worth probably $4,000, and
that was his whole interest. The
Seventh avenue railroad men held
the stock for self protection. How
can Sharp be connected with the sl-
legged 100000 corruption fund only
because he voted for an issue of bonds
for that amount. This hiss been
proven By the prosecutions wit
nesses, and If you cannot con-
denim them how can you fad
against him? Is there to be one
law for them and another for him ?
They contend that some improper use
of that money was made on August
20, 1884 1t was in the hands # the
proper officer of the company, and
was never used by Mr.. Sharp in whole
or in part for that or any other pur-
pose. He had no more control of it
than you had. 1t was voted for proper
uses by the officers of the company,
and that is all the evidence there ia
about it. Are any of them guilty Of
bribery and corruption? Is Jacob
Sharp snY more guilty? You are not
to try this case on surmises and suspi-
cione, or imsginings on the Evidence.
Mr.. Sharp's connection with the
scheme may be stated thus: For
thirty years he has been actively in
terested in, moving for railroad on
Broadway, and in 1884 he secured the
passage Of on act authorizing it. He
then pressed his efforts, and was con-
ttiiluaiiy at Tho o&sc c. Rob;rscn,
Scribner & Bright, and the evidence ID
that he was never there for any i'm
proper purposes. These gentlemen
have been upon the stand, and Col
Fellows will not ssk you to discredit
them. They say there was no con-
spiracy. Will you find that there was
by Inference Sharp was there, and
80 was Moloney, but there is no evil
dence to show that they were there
for other than for legal purpose"
Now, gentlemen, every act of Mr.
Sharp rs has bsen shown is devoid Of
all guilt. There is not scintilla Of
evidence to connect him with the bri
berry of Fullgraf. You have no right
to consider the question of conspiracy
at all, as the word does not occur in
the Indictment; and If such a thing
should happen as to find Sharp guilty
OF such a thing, it would simply bt
judicial murder. There was no con
spiracy. These men were engaged IL
railroad enterprise, and il this was {
conspiracy then there was conspira
cy, and Messrs. Scribner and Brigh
were parties TO it. The aldermen o
1884 struck everything in which ther'
was any pecuniary value. Thel
struck for money right and left. They
had $1,000 bills, and no one know
where they came from. Fullgraf
says he got money from DeLacy, bu'
there is no proof Of any connection be
tween DeLacy and the Seventh ave
nue. railway, much less Mr.
Sharp Would you find a yer
dict in case for $25 on tn
evidence Of such a man as Fullgrsft
who has not only pe1jured himself
but who goes on the stand and admit
that he violated every cath that ht
ever took. Yet his evidence is tn,
backbone Of this case, and the judg
will tell you that you have the RICH
to reject il altogether. Every man il
this room has had to submit to eXaC
tons. II you 90 to the custom house
you will have to pay brides to tn
officials to get what you are entitled
to. II you q to the registers Office
you must pay brides to clerks and off
cials, and every law office in this cit.
has had to do it and ia compelled t
pay brides, aud it will be so until hon
est public officials are elected.
Now, Fullgrsff, The district attol
ney says, hes testified in this case, an,
will take mp his residence in distan
State. This means that this is to b
the last OF the bribery trials, for n
one can be convicted without him.
means that this old man of sevent
years is TO be sent to prison, and tn
alderman, about whose guilt there
no question, is TO be allowed to 8